Nicknames within Formula One often come with meaning and though some can become controversial and dismissible, others stick through the entirety of a career. Here are a few of the 2020 drivers and a look in to how their nicknames were chosen.
Max Verstappen – Mad Max
(Red Bull 2020)
Though Verstappen insists he was never ‘Mad Max’, he ‘was just Max’ trying to do the best for the team, there are evidently moments where he overstepped the mark. The Dutchman has lived up to his name, which was originally given to him following his defensive tactics at Spa and Suzuka, causing controversial moments on and off track.
He received punishment from the FIA following an altercation with Esteban Ocon in Brazil (2018) and most recently, in response to a collision with racing Point’s Lance Stroll, was the topic of conversation after causing offence to a selection of fans. Verstappen called Stroll ‘a Mongol’ and ‘a retard’, terms offensive to those of Mongolian heritage and those with disabilities. However, Horner jumped in to say, ‘Emotions run high and this sort of thing is also just Max’s character’, adding that Max has matured over the years.
To his supporters, ‘Super Max’ is a more suitable nickname, immortalised by the memorable music video made by some of his Dutch fans, the ‘Pitstop Boys’.
Pitstop Boys – Super Max Original Video
Lewis Hamilton – Billion Dollar Man
(Mercedes 2020)
Lewis Hamilton is the highest paid driver in the history of Formula One with his career earnings estimated at $498 million (£356 million). With a huge net worth and being the most expensive driver on the grid, he was referred to as the ‘Billion Dollar Man’ by fans.
After winning the Championship for a 7th time, Daniel Ricciardo dubbed Hamilton ‘Mr Consistent’, with his multiple broken records and performance constantly improving.
Daniil Kvyat – The Torpedo
(Alpha Tauri 2020)
Kvyat was given the ‘Torpedo’ nickname during his stretch with Red Bull. After a collision with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel at the Russian Grand Prix in 2016, the two were filmed in the cool down room. Vettel said Daniil “came like a torpedo”. From that moment, the name stuck and continued to be used by other drivers.
In Bahrain 2019, Lewis Hamilton asked who was behind him, after hearing it was Kvyat, he responded “I almost got torpedoed”.
Vettel Christens The ‘Torpedo’
Kimi Raikkonen – Iceman
(Alfa Romeo 2020)
Of the 2020 grid, Kimi undoubtedly has the most fitting and well-known nickname, ‘The Iceman’.
Though the other drivers are often enthusiastic and outspoken in interviews, Kimi keeps to a straightforward and blunt approach, rarely giving away his emotions and thoughts in more than one sentence (or in some cases one word… bwoah!).
He was given the nickname because of this approach alongside his icy persona. Worry and stress rarely seem to affect him and all he cares about is the race and putting in a quick lap.
But I am sure a very different Kimi appears when he’s around his favourite people, his family.
Kimi’s Puts Out Fire On His Car (Abu Dhabi Practice)
Daniel Ricciardo – Honey Badger
(Renault 2020)
The Honey Badger has been named one of the bravest animals in the world. Despite its small size it is known to attack lions and buffaloes and once its target is chosen, it’s almost impossible for it to let it go. Daniels brutal overtakes are similar, he never backs down from a fight for the higher position.
As for the nickname’s origin, Ricciardo gives credit to his previous trainer Stuart Smith. “He’d shown me a documentary on it and said: ‘Dude this animal’s great!’ I thought it was awesome. Then he added that he thought I had a lot of honey badger qualities. And I thought, ‘yeah, I think I do!’”
Sebastian Vettel – Baby Schumacher (Schumi)
(Ferrari 2020)
Following the growing success of the German driver, many started to compare both his route in to racing, relationship with mechanics/engineers and racing style to 7-time world champion, Michael Schumacher.
Despite playing the ‘Baby Schumacher’ name down, the two do share an amazing amount of achievements and experiences. Both drivers started Karting at the Kerpen Karting Track and joined junior driver programs with F1 teams and ultimately have gone on to become two of the biggest names in the history of the sport.
Did you know that Sebastian also gives his cars nicknames? His 2020 Ferrari was called ‘Lucilla’.
George Russell – Mr Saturday
(Williams 2020)
Russell earned himself the nickname ‘Mr Saturday’ for his performance during qualifying sessions against his teammate, Nicholas Latifi. Although the team was left ‘bewildered as to why the car performed at a higher level during qualifying’, George made a huge turnaround from the 2019 performances by qualifying to Q2 17 times.
Lando Norris – Last Lap Lando
(McLaren 2020)
Known as the ‘Meme Lord’ of F1, Lando entertains both on track and online. He has almost revolutionised the way that fans interact with the drivers, streaming live online, alongside other drivers, and creating huge fan bases across social media.
However, on the track, he was given the more impressive name: ‘Last Lap Lando’ after an incredible final lap of the Austrian GP (2020), securing his first ever podium in F1. Lando managed to grab P3 following a five-second penalty for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, with teammate Carlos Sainz securing P5 due to another five second penalty for Racing Point’s Sergio Perez. With Lando’s podium and fastest lap points the team were in the top places in the Constructors championship, with Team Principal, Andreas Seidl, proudly stating “P3 and P5 is simply unbelievable”.
Norris’ Last Two Laps – Austria 2020
Alex Albon – Mr Round the Outside
(Red Bull 2020)
‘Mr Round the Outside’ was crowned after Albon’s series of courageous and outstanding overtakes using the unconventional outside line. In an interview with Red Bull he responded to the name saying “People defend, so I have to go around the outside”.
Carlos Sainz – Chilli
(McLaren 2020)
Carlos’ nickname ‘Chilli’ comes after a few too many drinks on a night out with friends. In an interview he said that his name went from Carlos to Charlie and Charlie to Chilli and the name stuck, despite the fact he doesn’t like Chilli!
Formula 1 describe Sainz as a ‘tenacious racer’, with the nickname Chilli complementing how he puts the car on edge as he ‘hustles his way through the pack’.
Sergio Perez – Checo
(Racing Point 2020)
According to Perez, in Mexico anyone named Sergio is automatically given the nickname ‘Checo’, so there isn’t such an interesting story behind this one. But it’s quick, cool and runs in the family, with his son also using the name.
Antonio Giovinazzi – Giovi/Jesus
(Alfa Romeo 2020)
The Italian was given the name ‘Jesus’ due to his long hair, which will undoubtedly remain part of his look for a long time. Unless of course, further bets are made, and team principal Fred Vasseur has the opportunity to trim a few more locks off!
Between his friends, he is also known as ‘Giovi’ and following the acknowledgment of his love for Bee’s, evident by the cartoon Bee on his helmet, surely there will be a new nickname surfacing; ‘Swarm’, ‘Hive’? We will wait and see!
Esteban Ocon – Oconsistency
(Renault 2020)
Esteban gained the nickname of ‘Oconsistency’ during the 2017 season as he scored points in 18/20 races, only dropping points for a 12th place finish in Monaco and a DNF in Brazil. His performance made him one of the most impressive young drivers on the grid throughout 2017 and 2018 but, when Force India became Racing Point he lost his seat and spent a year on the side lines.
With Esteban continuing with Renault (becoming Alpine) in 2021, he has a chance to pick the name back up against teammate, Fernando Alonso.
Romain Grosjean – The Phoenix
(Haas 2020)
Romain has recently been crowned ‘The Phoenix’ following his horrific crash in Bahrain and he has been proud to display the name across social media. Phoenixes, known to be the strongest of supernatural creatures, are incredibly powerful and almost impossible to kill, and are linked closely to fire, hence the new relation to Grosjean. However, this isn’t the first nickname the French-Swiss driver has been given.
Within the Haas factory, Romain stated that he had been given two nicknames which were translations of his name. But there are a few ways to translate it. ‘Gros Jean’ immediately translates to ‘Big Jeans’ but can also be translated as ‘Johnny Fat’ (Gros: Fat & Jean: John).… I don’t think Romain would be too happy with any of those options!
Another nickname mentioned in an early interview was ‘Lettuce’, in relation to the Romaine Lettuce and, although it didn’t stay, unlike most lettuces, it is tolerant of heat and some would say it is now quite fitting!
Finally, Grosjean was described as the ‘first-lap nutcase’ by Mark Webber for Sky F1 after his first-corner shunt at the 2012 Belgian GP earned him a race ban for dangerous driving, the first since Eddie Irvine in 1994. However, following the nicknames circulation, Romain argued he isn’t ‘crazy’ and quickly dismissed the name.
What about the others?
Kevin Magnussen, Valtteri Bottas, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi are yet to be given significant nicknames from the Formula One community but, if you were to give them one what would it be and why?
Grid Driven 